Immunosuppressed population doubled over a decade
March 4, 2024
Source: Martinson, ML et al JAMA February 15, 2024 LINK
I wrote that about 3% of adults were immunosuppressed last month, based on a 2016 report in JAMA using data from 2013. But a different set of researchers published an update, also in JAMA, which shows that the overall rate of immunosuppression has increased to 6.6%. Rates of immunosuppression rise with age, and are highest for those who are insured, for women, for White people.
The researchers derived this from survey results from the National Health Interview Survey, so people’s responses might not perfectly match their medical records. The researchers weighted the responses to make them applicable to the overall US population.
Immunosuppression rates have increased for a few different reasons. Mostly, a widely used set of drugs that treat serious diseases ranging from multiple sclerosis to rheumatoid arthritis to inflammatory bowel disease are immunosuppressants. Eleven of the top 25 drugs by total cost have impacts on the immune system (WTW Rx Collaborative data.) This includes blockbuster drugs such as Humira, Embrel, and Stelara. In addition, people are surviving longer with cancer, which itself suppresses the immune system.
Implications for employers:
Many employees at the workplace are on medications that interfere at least somewhat with immune function; these employees could be at higher risk of severe complications from infections. Still more employees live with family members who are immunocompromised.
Workplaces should continue to be “mask friendly” to allow with risks to gain the benefit of masks to prevent respiratory infections.
Employers can allow employees at higher risk to work remotely, especially when there are high rates of infection in the community.
It’s still not too late for employees to get influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, and those over age 60 to get the RSV vaccine.
Thanks for reading. You can find previous posts in the Employer Coverage archive
Please subscribe, “like” and suggest this newsletter to friends and colleagues. Thanks!
Tomorrow: More teens and young adults prescribed antidepressants